mechlin



Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES ERNEST F. MECHLIN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

DRAFT RIGGING.

Application filed February 4, 1926. Serial No. 86,011.

My invention relates to draft rigging for railway cars and more particularly to mechanism for operatively connecting the coupler to the yoke member.

The principal feature of the invention is to provide means for connecting a swivel butt coupler to a hooded yoke of standard A. R. Ai. dimensions so that the strains incident to the buiiing movement of the draft rigging can beuniformly transmitted to the cushioning mechanism irrespective of the radial position of the coupler, a portion of the butl'ing strain being also received by the yoke through ofc-acting bearing portions provided on the yoke and coupler stem.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of draft rigging in which the coupler is pivotally connected to the yoke member so that the draft strains are taken through apin which is suitably retained by an intersecting key, and the butiing loads transmitted to the cushioning mechanism through a plurality of pivoted members, said members comprising the coupler stem and having co-acting bearing portions which permit relative pivotal movement of the coupler and yoke when engaged as the result of the bufiing movement of the draft rigging, some of the bearing portions on the coupler stem being adapted to coact with adjacent bearing portions provided on the yoke whereby buifmg strain is transmitted to the yoke as Well as to the cushioning mechanism, irrespective of the position of the coupler with relation to the center line of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivotally connected coupler and yoke mechanism adapted for use with A. R. A. standard draft gea-r and draft gear pocket, the said yoke being also adapted to permit of the use therein Without alteration or change of a standard A. R. A. coupler.

A further object of the invention resides in the production of means for operatively connecting a yoke member to a coupler capable of radial movement with respect to said yoke, said means including a pivot member adapted to unite the coupler and yoke and receive the draft strains, said pivot member being adapted to pass through a plurality of relatively rotatable members intermediate the ends of the yoke, said rotatable members comprising the coupler stem and being provided With longitudinally spaced bearing portions concentrically disposed with relation to the pivot member and adapted to uniformly transmit buiiing loads to the cushioning mechanism of the draft rigging, some of said bearing portions being adapted. to co-act with adjacent bearmg portions on the yoke, and means including aretaining member adapted to intersect the pivot member, said retaining member being also designed to extend through the slottedportions of the coupler and yoke. and being housed within the center sills of the draft rigging.

The invention further consists in the construction of the several elements together with their particular` arrangement and combination, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims Figure l is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section, illustrating a coupler and yoke member constructed in accordance with my present invention.

y Figure 2 is a side view with parts in vertical longitudinal section of the construction shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view with parts in horizontal section, of a railway draft rigging embodying the inventon.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectional view through one of the rotatable coupler members to be referred to herein as the swivel block.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponcling parts in the several views, I have shown a hooded yoke l of the vertical type connected to a swivel butt coupler 2. The coupler stem is of atwo-part construction comprising the rotatable or pivoted members 3 and 4, the latter forming the swivel block. The members are each provided with a key slot formed in part in each of the said members, said slot being adapted to receive the transversely disposed key 5. The key 5 is adapted to intersect the pivot member or pin 6 which connects the rotatable members of the coupler stem to opposite side walls of the hooded end of the yoke. The retaining key 5, in addition to maintaining the sor . armsr or lips pivot pin or pintle in position, provides a ysafety connection between the coupler and yoke in that shouldthe ypin break' under servicefconditio'ns the key, withfits respective ends extending into the slotted center ills, will prejverntptheV separation and dr-opping of theV coupler and yoke.

The member 3 of the coupler stem isfpro-= vided with the spaced rearwardly extending 7, the endportions of which are curved or rounded so as to provide the bearing faces 8'. Each arm -7 is also pro-v vided/with a projecting `rib or web 9, the inner face of which is curved or rounded concentrically with the face-8 at therear, Arranged betweenv the spacedfarms 7 of thev coupler is the second endy of eachI arm 7.

member or swivel block 11, said block' being formed withy forwardly projecting arms 10 arranged adjacent the arms 'i'fandtsuitably spaced to form theV slot which receives they transversely disposed connecting` key 5. The ends of the arms lOfare rounded or curved coneentrically, asr indicated atll, for 0perative engagement with the adjacent inner provided on the projecting curved faces webs 9.

The swivel'block 11- is provided with air inner portion '12 extending into the hooded end of thegyoke and disposed in the vnature of`a follower' which maintains a relatively fixed position for engagement with the cush- Y inning` mechanism of a ldraft rigging, dia-y graminatically illustrated in 'dotted lines in Figure 4e, irrespective of the'radialor swing- Y ing movement ofV the coupler. `The outer'- most face of theportion 12 is rounded or curved concentrically at a plurality of pointsfas indicated by the numeral 13, said curved face being arranged for cooperative engagement with vthe curved faces @provided on` the inner face ofthe arms "7 of the coupler member 3.

The yoke 1 is" formed with hooded en d provided with a plurality of pairs of oppositelyV disposed side walls, one pairofV the' side walls being provided; with alined slots 14 and the other pair ofv sidewalls being formed with alined openings 111. The forward ends of the side walls in which the openingsla are provided `are curved 'or roundedV concentrically with said openings,

asindicated by the numeral 15. rlhe curved forward ends 115 provide relatively 'large kbearing portions adapted to co-act with similarly curved bearing surfaces provided oni the coupler stem, said last named bea-ringv surfaces being also `formed conc'entricallyl about the openings 121 and pivot member containedl therein. The forward ends 15l of the yoke side walls are united with the inner faces of the yoke arms with sufficient clearf ance to permit angling ofthe coupler and that portion formed with the co-acting bear` ing surfaces.v The co-acting bearing surfaces- 4initting relative 1,634,429 `y y e i .i l l are formed on projecting webs 16, said webs being suitably reinforced by ribs 17. It will Vbe` observed thaty on bufiingiinovement the coupler stem bearing faces onl the webs 16 are brought into engagement with the Vadjacent bear-ing surfaces on. the curved por- "tions' 15 of the walls ofthe yoke, the con'- tour-,ofi the abutting bearing portions perand yoke. r i s y i In Figure Z.Lof the drawings I have shown my improved connecting means associatedV withV a draft rigging disposedf between the slotted center sills 18, said center sills being provided with front stop'members 19 and rear stop members 20 between which is dis` pivotal action of the coupler i draftY strains are taken through* the cony neeting pin 6 which is encircled bythe arms 7 of the coupler member 3, said pin beingplaced under quadruple shear fbut` since the pin is suitably braced throughoutits entire length all" danger ofy distortion Vis avoided Y and sufficient: metal; provided to withstand" all of the strains lincident to the draft.V

Under bufling loadsy the co-acting bearing surfaces ofthe' rotatable coupler come-into operative engagement for transmittingfthe' loads directly to the cushioning mechanism which is ypositioned in the rear ofy and' in f Contact with the portion'12 `ofv-the swivel block 1. 1nv addition, the co-ac'ting bearing portions on the couplermember 3" and the yoke 1 are also brought into'- operativey engagement whereby a portion of tli'ejbuifingl loads'is transmittedy to l,the yoke` The l con'- centric disposition of'tlie co-actinglbearing surfaces on'- the rotatable coupler members and one of the coupler membersl and the,

yoke arms permits ofY relative pivotallmove` ment of the yoke and coupler whenl engaged as the result ofthebuiti'ngI `movement of the drafty rigging. construction a strong and reliable connecting means is provided between" a swivel butt coupler and yokev member, the several partsbeing capable of economicall manufacture and of dimensions falling within the A. R. A."

standards.

I claim: y1. In= a railway draft rigging, the combination: with a coupler, of a hooded yoker meanspivotally connecting said yoke' and"-V intersecting saidl pivotal coupler, a key Y means and extending throughltfhe yoke andf Ask a result of my presentv coupler, and means providedon said coupler and yoke for resisting `bufling movement, said means being designed to permit relative pivot-alaction of the yoke and coupier When in engagement.

2. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a coupler, of a hooded yoke, a pin connecting said yoke and coupler, a key extending at an angle to said pin and adapted to retain the same in position, and means including cto-acting bearing surfaces formed on the coupler and yoke for resisting buifing strains, saidbearing surfaces being designed to permit relative pivotal movement of the yoke and coupler when in engagement.

3; Ina railway draft rigging, the combination with a' slotted coupler having a bear' ing surface, of a slotted yoke provided with a co-acting bearing surface, a pin pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke, and a retaining member adapted to intersect said pin and arranged to pass through the slots in said yoke. and coupler, the said bearing surfaces on the yoke and coupler being designed to permit relative pivotal movement thereof when they are engaged as the result of the buiiing movement of the draft rigging.

41:. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a coupler, of a hooded yoke, means pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke, a key extending through said yoke and coupler, and means provided on said coupler and yoke for engagement upon buiiing movement of the draft rigging, said means comprising co-acting bearing portions arranged concentrically with respect to said pivotal means for permitting relative swinging movement of Athe yoke and coupler when engaged as a result of the buiiing movement.

5. In a railway draft rigging', the combination with a coupler, of a yoke provided with a hooded end, means including a pin pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke, means passing through said coupler and yoke for retaining said pin in position, and means including co-acting bearing surfaces provided on said hooded end and adjacent portions of the coupler, said bearing surfaces being adapted to permit relative pivotal movement of the coupler and yoke when engaged as the result of the bufiing movement of the draft rigging.

6. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a coupler having a plurality of bearing portions adapted to transmit buffstrains to the draft rigging, of a yoke having a hooded end provided with a pluralit-y of bearing portions adapted to co-act with the bearing portions on said coupler, a pin pivot-ally connecting the coupler and yoke, and a draft key intersecting said pin for retaining the same in position, the said co-acting bearing portions of the coupler and yoke being arranged to permit relative pivotal movement thereof when in engagement as the result of the buifing movement of the draft rigging. i

7. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a coupler having longitudinally spaced bearing portions adapted to transmit bufling strains to the cushioning mechu anism of the draft rigging, of a yoke provided with bearing portions adapted to coact with some of the coupler bearing portions, means including a pivot member adapted to connect said coupler and yoke, and draft means disposed at an angle and adapted to intersect said pivot member for retaining the same in position.

8. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a slotted coupler provided with spaced bearing portions, of a yoke having a hooded end, one pair of walls of which are formed with slots and the other pair of walls of which are provided with bearing surfaces adapted to be engaged by the spaced bearing portions of said coupler upon buffing movement of the draft rigging, means for pivotally connecting said coupler and yoke, and a retaining key intersecting said pivotal means and extending through the slotted coupler and slotted walls of said yoke.

9. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a hooded yoke provided with bearing portions adapted to' receive bufiing strains, of a coupler stem comprising a plu.- rality of relatively rotatable members, co-operat-ing bearing portions provided on said rotatable members adapted to transmit buffing strains to the draft rigging, other bearing portions provided on one of said rotatable members adapted to co-act with the bearing portions on the yoke, and means for pivotally connecting the yoke and coupler stem.

l0. In a railway draft rigging, the combination with a hooded yoke provided with bearing portions adapted to receive buiiing strains, of a two-part coupler stem having 'portions thereof pivotally connected at a point intermediate the ends of said yoke member, means formed on one of the coupler portions for engaging a movable element of the draft rigging under movement in one direction, a plurality of co-acting bearing surfaces on said coupler portions concentrically disposed about the pivotal connection thereof, some of said bearing portions being adapted to co-act` with the bearing portions on the yoke upon bufiing movement of the draft rigging.

ll. In a railway draftA rigging, the combination with slotted center sills, of a swivel butt coupler having means for engaging a movable element of the draft rigging under movement in one direction, a hooded yoke provided with bearing portions adapted to receive bufiing strains, a plurality of coacting bearing portions provided on said coupler?, isorne `of said bearing'A portions :being-r Y adaptedito cofaetrwith bearing portions: 0n

the yoke, and a transverselyy disposed: key.4

intersecting the Swivelfconnectiomof theicoupleiygthevends-o'f-saidkey projecting` through.

the slot in the* Center; sills.

12..'An integral, hooded yoke, adapted to,r receive a standard coupler, said-yoke beingA provided with aliiied openings having'curvedi endiportionsrin one .pair of Wallsiandihaving;

Y. bearinof ontions on each, of said Walls said` f D 7 beai'ng portions being dis-posed ooncentri cally to the saidrcurvedportionof.said openf l ings, `the other pair of WallsI being` orinedzr to receive a drafokey.

13A hooded yoke adapted to receivea standard couplei,. onepain of Wallsof: said' yoke beingr slotted to. receive a keyv andthe other pair of wallsbeiiig adaptedV toy receive a. pivotal. connection, and bearing portions provided onthe end portions of the pairY of Walle receiving the pivotall connection and' adaptedf` to. receive forces Vfrom the coupler. 14'. A coupler steincomprising a.` plurality with, al key` slotformeddnf Bark: in each of; said'v members,A emanating` bearing portione of' piviotallyr` connected? membersf, provide@ K25 providedion;saidemeinbeissfand.Ermngedioonr4v l centrically of the pivotal-eonneotionwmd a.'

bearing portion: project/ingr at, least-2 provided: on` said.` rotatable inembeie` said 40' portions beingl adapted to@ transmit buii'ng; strains tothefdrafb. rigging, said) relativeemetatable y members being` intereeoted byf al s1otk and a. keyA passing; through aaid s1ot.and1 the,-

were@ a adjacent portrionof saidlyokefnnoperativeiy "45 connecting said coupler and; yoke;

Inl testimony; whereofsI: afim my; signature'.

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